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This was a rare book that I visited twice - once to read, another to listen. If you are a fan of Dame Judi Dench or Shakespeare even in the slightest, I recommend this book. Due to her failing eyesight, Dame Judi‘s participation in the audio book was kept to recitation of Shakespeare passages she knows by heart. Barbara Flynn‘s (Cracker, Return to Paradise) interpretation in the audio is superb and her voice bears a startling resemblance. 👇🏻

I didn't read as much as I'd have liked in 2024 but I'm glad that what I did read was so wonderful. More than half were new-to-me titles, and I also read a boatload of plays and books on Shakespeare - probably inspired by the tagged book, my hands-down favorite of the year. Honorable mentions to the other two pictured, Olga Ravn's fascinating non-linear fever dream and Taylor's walloping gut-punch of a novella. Cheers to a great year, Littens!

This was SO much fun, and it made me want to read or re-read and watch all the plays discussed. One disappointment: I intentionally checked out the audiobook, because I wanted to hear this in Judi Dench‘s voice. I didn‘t realize her part of the conversations was narrated by someone else (my fault—it‘s clearly marked on the cover!). That said, once I got into it, I didn‘t notice so much that it wasn‘t her, and the conversations were a delight. ⤵️

This was such a delightful book! I have never been that curious about Shakespeare‘s plays, but hearing Judi Dench talk about her experience playing different characters was a treat.

Loved the banter between Judi and Brendan, it was very entertaining.

If you are a fan of Shakespeare, Judi Dench or if you are just curious about his work (like I was), read this!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a complete delight. Highly recommended if you are interested in Dame Judi, Shakespeare, theatre history, the RSC, or acting in general. I googled so many pictures and fell down so many Wiki holes, looking up people and productions she talks about.

Destroying more books while listening to Dame Judi.
What a great Friday night! 💚
#audiocrafting

Great listen! Makes me want to hunt down the film versions with Dame Judi so I can watch them.

I haven‘t finished a book in a few days and I‘m in the middle of too many…This one is so lovely!

This is Dame Judi Dench talking about playing Gertrude at the National Theatre in Richard Eyre‘s production of Hamlet in the late 80s. The Dan in this passage is Daniel Day-Lewis. In the question before this one she said he “gave the most phenomenal performance.”

This was magnificent! A series of interviews of Judi Dench on her long career as a Shakespearean actress. She just adores Shakespeare and had an absolutely phenomenal career. Her enthusiasm comes out along with her insight in to playing these roles. So many major performances and she embraced them and the texts so deeply. I can't recommend this highly enough to anyone who feels that Shakespeare love. Especially our #Shakespearereadalong veterans.

A niche book but if you like Shakespeare or Judi Dench, you will probably love it. 🎭

Brendan O‘Hea conducted a series of interviews with Judi Dench, which were then edited down into this book. A fellow thespian and old friend, O‘Hea asks Dench about the many Shakespearean roles she has played in her over 70 years as an actress. She is opinionated, insightful, and snarky. And oh how she adores Shakespeare. This is for a very specific audience—theatre nerds and lovers of The Bard will find it delightful. Excellent audiobook.

My new audiobook. Dench is magnificent. She‘s about 90 now. And while we must suffer through another reader reading her words (a good reader), her answers have been sparkling through my 1st hour - on Lady Macbeth and on Stratford-upon-Avon. Old #shakespearereadalong peeps - you will want to check this out.

Fabulous!

I really enjoyed reading Dame Judi‘s reminiscences of past Shakespeare performances and her thoughts on Shakespeare‘s work in general. The book is written as a conversation and it feels like you‘re listening to her in her drawing room over tea. And now I want to read or re-read all these plays!

Littens, I am *obsessed*! Don't skip this oral history of Judi Dench's time playing all the Shakespeare greats, her recollections, and her insight into Shakespeare's characters and writing. I thought I'd miss her signature voice in the audiobook but Barbara Flynn is wonderful. Longing for time-travel so I can go back for her Gertrude in Hamlet (with Daniel Day-Lewis, obvs), Beatrice in Much Ado, Regan in Lear, Lady M., and Imogen in Cymbeline.

I like Shakespeare good enough. I‘ve seen plays at festivals and have enjoyed them. I‘m not obsessed with Shakespeare. However, the book was signed by Judy Dench. This is basically a book of interviews. I got bored pretty quick. But, she signed it. If you want to read interviews and are really into Shakespeare you‘ll enjoy.

Reading this, hearing Judi Dench‘s voice in my head, makes me want to reread every Shakespeare play, and watch the RSC productions online. I wish I‘d had it nearby as we read them in the #shakespearereadalong days!

Starting this one tonight. 🙂

Absolutely delightful. If you are a Shakespeare fan, a theatre fan, and/or a Judi Dench fan, this is an absolutely marvelous listen/read. Apparently the original conversations spanned 120 hours of footage, and I honestly feel like I could have listened to all of it. Joyful.

My husband, who totally gets me, gifted my with a signed copy of the tagged book. So of course I put it on my #bookspin for May. 🙂

Dame Judi Dench shares her experiences acting in Shakespeares plays.